The New Orleans Saints made a big splash on the first day of free agency by signing former Clemson star running back Travis Etienne.
Etienne now heads to the Big Easy and returns home to his native Louisiana, joining the Saints on a four-year, $52 million deal after spending the first five years of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
ESPN has been handing out 2026 NFL free agency grades, with analytics writer Seth Walder evaluating moves “based on multiple factors, including on-field impact, salary cap implications, compensation, player value/age and the context of a team’s short- and long-term outlooks.”
Walder gave the Saints signing Etienne a “C-” grade:
For the first time in what seems like years, the Saints entered free agency with a bit of cap room to maneuver. They opted for one decent-sized signing in Etienne, but it’s not a move I can endorse.
Etienne entered free agency coming off an improved season in which he recorded 4.3 yards per carry and 44 rush yards over expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats. But that came after two consecutive seasons in which Etienne recorded negative rush yards over expected (minus-77 in 2023 and minus-43 in 2024) following a big 2022 campaign.
And although Etienne recorded six receiving touchdowns last season, he had only 36 receptions, and the Jaguars kept him off the field in passing situations. He was active for only 6% of third-and-7-plus plays.
The Saints need improved play from their running backs on running plays. Alvin Kamara recorded minus-95 rush yards over expected and rookie Devin Neal was at minus-29. Etienne should help, but the bigger driver of running-play success is offensive line play. The Saints ranked 23rd in run block win rate and 30th in yards before contact per carry last season.
It remains to be seen whether the Saints will pair Etienne with Kamara, who turns 31 this summer and whose primary skill is in the receiving game, or move on from the veteran. Either way, though Etienne should improve the Saints’ running game, I don’t love this usage of their capital, especially considering his inconsistent history. The Saints could have picked up a different back in the draft or free agency who still would have improved their running game but for less cash.
The 2025 campaign marked the final year of Etienne’s rookie contract, with Etienne playing on his fifth-year option after being selected by the Jaguars with the 25th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
This past season, Etienne surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his four active seasons after missing his entire 2021 rookie campaign due to a season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered in that preseason. He ran for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries in 2025, while also catching 36 passes for 292 yards and six scores.
The 27-year-old Etienne ranked 11th in the NFL in rushing yards this past season and 17th in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,399. He accounted for a career-high 13 total touchdowns.
Overall, in 66 career NFL games from 2022-25, Etienne has rushed for 3,798 yards and 25 touchdowns on 897 carries while also catching 168 passes for 1,338 yards and seven more scores.
